Door construction



May 31, 1949. v R. CADWALLADER r 2,471,811,

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. 2, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

FOZEI'? 6' 4114 4 2Z4 476 Patented May 31, 1949 DOOR CONSTRUCTION Robert Cadwallader, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Continuation 'of application Serial No. 547,676,

August 2, 1944. This application October 18, 1947, Serial No. 780,666

8 Claims.

This application is a continuation of Cadwallader application, Serial No. 547,676, fl1e'd August 2, 1944, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a door construction. More specifically it relates to an automobile door construction for receiving a sliding window.

The present tendency in automobile body design is to increase the interior width as much as possible. There is, of course, a limit to the exterior width, and so any increase in interior width must come from reduction in body wall thickness. The doors must be reduced in thickness.

I have invented a door construction that effects a reduction in door thickness and yet permits the door to be curved in conformance with the rest of the body. My improved door construction carries with it other advantages such as improved strength and compactness of arrangement.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved door construction. This construc tion may be employed in an automobile door having a slidable window.

A further object is to improve the door construction of an automobile in such a way as to reduce its thickness and thereby to provide an increase in internal width for a given external width.

Another object is to make improvements in a door curved in conformance with the remainder of an automobile body and yet enabling the door to receive a straight window.

Still another object is to provide a door having improved construction from the standpoint of strength and compactness of arrangement.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an automobile door involving the novel construction of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Reference character ll"! designates a door having a body portion II and a frame 12 above the body portion receiving a slidable window I3, which may be formed of suitable substance such as glass. The upper part of the door frame I2 is formed as shown in Fig. 2. A sheet-metal element I l has an outwardly extending leg 15 and a laterally extending leg it having an inwardly extending flange ll, which in turn has a laterally extending flange 18. A sheet-metal element H! has at an outer portion a bent-back flange is clamped to the outer edge of the leg l5 of the element [4 and a wide rib2l pressed in a direction away from the element [4 at a region element I9 to curve.

inwardly of the laterally extending leg [6. The element i9 terminates in a straight inner edge 22. A sheet-metal element 23 is secured to the flange ii of the element it by means of one or more screws 2d. The element 23 has at its inner edge a bent-back flange 25 positioned in spaced opposed relation to the inner edge 22 of the eiement ii] and at its outer edge a lateral flange it and an inwardly extending flange 21 joined to the lateral flange 2E. The flange 2? on the element 23 abuts a seal 28 and so in effect forms with the laterally extending leg in of the element M, a depression for the seal 23. This means alone may hold the seal in the position shown, or it may also be bonded to the legs l5 and N5 of the element M and to the flange 29 of the element iii. A metal-and-fabric channel 29 is clamped between the inner edge 22 of the element It and the flange 25 of the element 23 and is backed against the lateral flange it of the element M. Over one edge of the channel 29 is clamped a metallic U-shaped strip 30 serving as the decorative portion of the inner edge 22 of the element 9. The channel 29 slidably receives the upper edge of the window Hi.

The parts of the automobile body with which the upper part of the door frame l2 cooperates are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As shown, there are provided a windlace 3i, a channel 32, a gutter 33, and a portion 3 1 extending into the roof of the body. The windlace 3| abuts the upper edge of the element 23. The channel 32 is pressed into the seal 28. The gutter 33 extends out over the outwardly extending leg 15 of the element i i and the element [9. The body elements in dotted lines will curve away to the right rearwardly of the section of Fig. 2. The seal 28 must do likewise. Thus at a section rearward of the section of Fig. 2 the seal 28 will be displaced to the right of its position of Fig. 2, and the same is true of the leg !5 of element Hi and the outer portion of the element 59. On the other hand, the inner edge 22 of the element l9 remains straight, because it engages the straight channel 29 receiving the straight window I3. The rib 2! makes it possible to keep the inner edge 22 straight and to allow the outer portion of the The rib permits this to be carried out in a suitable shaping operation. The same result might be achieved by having the outer portion of the element 59 displaced laterally as far as the rib 2!, but this would serve incidentally to increase the overall external width of the car, which is undesirable.

Elements l4, l9, and 23 have been stated to be juncture of the legs of the first element, a second element attached to the outwardly extending leg of the first element and extending inwardly of the laterally extending; leg, a third element having a body portion extending in generally parallel spaced relation to the inwardly directed flange on the first element from outward of the laterally extending leg to inward thereof, an outwardly directed flange on the inner side of the body "portion, a laterallydirected flange on the outer side of the bodyportion, and an in- ;wardly directedflange on the laterally directed flange said inwardlydirec'ted flange and the'legs of said first element providing-a retaining channel for the sealing strip, rneans acting on the fliodyportion of the third element and the 'inwardly extending flangeon the first element to -attach the third element-to thefirst element, and a channel having abase'engaging the laterally extending flange on the first element and sides held'by andbetween thesecond'element and the outwardly directed flange on the third element, the ch'annel'slid a'bly receiving the outer-edge 'of the slidable window.

'2. In. a door construction having a window "slid'able' toward'and away from oneend of'the door, a first sheet met'al element extending along the said end of the door and having an outward- ;ly' extending leg, a lat'erally' extending'leg, an-

i inwardly' extending flange on the laterallyex- "tendingleg, and a laterally extending flange "on the aforesaidflangefa'sealing strip received at the juncture'of the legs of'the'first elern'entja second element having an outer portion attached ,toflthe outwardlyextending leg of the first elefnientYa'nd an ,Iinfner "portion terminatingin' an linwardly extendingedgeinward of the laterally v extending" leg, the second element having" arib pressed therein 'away'fromthefirst element between the inner and outer'portions so as toper- Initfthe i'nner portion' of the second element to i 'be'straight forreceiving a straight window and Q'the outer portion of thesecond element t-obe curved'iin conformance with the external contour of the vehicle with which the door construction is associated, a third eleinent' having a body portion extending in generally"parallel spaced relation to the inwardlyfdi'rected flange on the Tffirst element from outwardof the laterally exjtending leg to inward thereof, an outwardly directed' flange'on the inner side of the body por- 'tion, a'glater'ally' directed flange onthe outer side 'l oithe body portion, and an inwardly directed :"Zflange'onthe laterally directed flange engaging [the sealing strip, neans' acting onthe body portion of the third felernent' and the inwardly exjitending flange onthe first elenienttoattach the f' f third element to thefirst'elernent, and achannel having a base engaging the laterally extending flange onthejfirstfelernentand sides held by and '4ibetween the 'ihwardly extending edgeof the secon'd element and the outwardly directed flange on the third element,-- the channelslidably receiving the outer edge of' the 'slidable window.

3. In a door construction having a window slidable toward and away from one end of the door, a first sheet-metal element extending along the said end of the door and having an outwardly extending leg and a laterally extending leg, asecond' element secured to the outwardly extending leg and extending inwardly of the laterally extending leg, a sealing strip received at the juncture of the legs of the first element,

a third element secured to the first element and positioned on the side thereof on which the laterally extending leg extends from the outwardly extending leg and having a first portion outward of thelaterally extending leg of the first element,- said first portion and the legs of said first element providing a retaining channel for the sealing strip'and a second portion inward of the legs of thefirst-element, a'third element secured to the first element-and= positioned on theside thereof on which the laterally extending legextends from the outwardly extendingleg and-having a first portion'outwa'rdof the laterally "extending leg of the first elementjsaidfirst portion and the legs of said first element providing a retaining channel for thesealing strip and a'secend portion inward of the laterally extending leg, and a channel'held by and between theinwa'rdly extending edge of thesecond elementand the second portion of the third element for slid-ably receiving the outer edge of the slidable window.

5. In a door construction having a window slidable toward and away from one end of the door,

a first sheet met'al' element'extending along the said end of the door and having an outwardly extending leg and a laterally extending leg, a second element having an outer portion secured to the outwardly extending leg, an inner portion inward of 'the laterally extending leg, and a 'rib pressed therein away "fromthe first element between the inner and outer portions so as to permit the inner portion of the second el'ement'to be straight 'forr'eoeivi'ng a'st'raight window and the outer portion of the second element to be curved in conformance with the external contour of the vehicle'withwhich the-door construction is associated," a'sealing'strip received at the juncture ofthelegs' of 'th'efirst element, a third element secured to the first element and positioned on the side thereof on 'whi'ch'the'laterally extending 'legextends from the outwardly extending leg and having a first portion outward of the laterally extending leg ofthe first element engaging the sealing strip in spaced-relationto the outwardly extending leg and a second portion-inward of the laterally extending leg, and a channel having abase solidly backed by" the first element and 'sides held between the second element and the 1 second "portion ofthe third -elemem,' the channel '"slidably reeeiving the outer edge of the slidable window.

-61 In a door --construction having-a window slidable toward and away from one end of the door, a first sheet-metal element extending along the said end of the door and having an outwardly extending leg and a laterally extending leg, a second element having an outer portion secured to the outwardly extending leg, an inner portion terminating in an inwardly extending edge inward of the laterally extending leg, and a rib pressed therein away from the first element between the inner and outer portions so as to permit the inner portion of the second element to be straight for receiving a straight window and the outer portion of the second element to be curved in conformance with the external contour of the vehicle with which the door construction is associated, a sealing strip received at the juncture of the legs of the first element, a third element secured to the first element and positioned on the side thereof on which the laterally extending leg extends from the outwardly extending leg and having a first portion outward of the laterally extending leg of the first element engaging the sealing strip in spaced relation to the outwardly extending leg and a second portion inward of the laterally extending leg,

and a channel having a base solidly backed by the first element and sides held between the inwardly extending edge of the second element and the second portion of the third element, the channel slidably receiving the outer edge of the slidable window.

7. In a door construction having a window slidable toward and away from one end of the door, a first sheet-metal element extending along the said end of the door and having an outwardly extending leg, a laterally extending leg, an inwardly extending flange on the laterally extending leg, and a laterally extending flange on the aforesaid flange, a sealing strip received at the juncture of the legs of the first element, a ,1

second element attached to the outwardly extending leg of the first element and extending inwardly of the laterally extending leg, a third element having a body portion extending in generally parallel spaced relation to the inwardly directed flange on the first element from outward of the laterally extending leg to inward thereof, a laterally directed flange on the outer side of the body portion, and an inwardly directed flange on the laterally directed flange, said last mentioned inwardly directed flange and the legs of said first element providing a retaining channel for the sealing strip, means acting on the body portion of the third element and the inwardly extending flange on the first element to attach the third element to the first element, and a channel having a base engaging the laterally extending flange on the first element and sides held by and between the second element and the third element, the channel slidably receiving the outer edge of the slidable window.

8. In a door construction having a window slidable toward and away from one end of the door, a first sheet-metal element extending along the said end of the door and having an outwardly extending leg, a laterally extending leg, an inwardly extending flange on the laterally extending leg, and a laterally extending flange on the aforesaid flange, a sealing strip received at the juncture of the legs of the first element, a second element having an outer portion attached to the outwardly extending leg of the first element and an inner portion terminating in an inwardly extending leg inward of the laterally extending leg, the second element having a rib pressed therein away from the first element between the inner and outer portions so as to permit the inner portion of the second element to be straight for receiving a straight window and the outer portion of the second element to be curved in conformance with the external contour of the vehicle with which the door construction is associated, a third element having a body portion extending in generally parallel spaced relation to the inwardly directed flange on the first element from outward of the laterally extending leg to inward thereof, a laterally directed flange on the outer side of the body portion, and an inwardly directed flange on the laterally directed flange engaging the sealing strip, means acting on the body portion of the third element and the inwardly extending flange on the first element to attach the third element to the first element, and a channel having a base engaging the laterally extending flange on the first element and sides held by and between the second element and. the third element, the channel slidably receiving the outer edge of the slidable window. ROBERT CADWALLADER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,913 McDowell July 16, 1929 1,965,014 Trautvetter July 3, 1934 2,176,964 Harrah Oct. 24, 1939 

